Best Warzone 2 Assault Rifle loadouts: Attachments & setups ranked

It doesn’t matter what map or mode you’re playing, ARs are always a strong option thanks to their versatility and impressive range. To help you pick the right one we’ve put together this list of the best assault rifles in Warzone, including recommended loadouts.

Assault rifles, or ARs, are one of the most adaptable weapons in all of Warzone. Regardless of if you’re shooting an enemy ten meters away or 150 meters away an assault rifle can get the job done.

Season 5 Reloaded finally nerfed the Cronen Squall, creating a pathway for ARs to finally carve a place in Warzone’s long-range mata again.

To help you stay on top of the meta and make sure you aren’t using second-rate guns we’ve made this list of the best assault rifles in Warzone 2 with recommended loadouts to use with each AR.

Best Warzone 2 Assault Rifles, ranked (Season 5)

13. M16

Best M16 Warzone 2 Loadout

• Muzzle: XTEN Ported 290 (+0.23, +0.00)
• Optic: Aim OP-V4 (-1.82, +0.00)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.80, -0.40)
• Ammunition: 5.56 High Velocity (+0.70, -3.77)
• Magazine: 60 Round Mag

Despite numerous buffs, the M16 remains a step below other class offerings. Its mediocre damage and complicated recoil pattern make the weapon essentially unusable. It may have some use in multiplayer but this burst rifle will likely never be a good option in Warzone.

12. Kastov 545

Best Kastov 545 Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: XTEN Ported 290 (+0.80, +0.17)
• Optic: Aim OP-V4 (+3.00, +0.00)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.80, -0.09)
• Ammunition: 5.56 High Velocity (+0.23, -4.78)
• Magazine: 60 Round Mag

Thanks to its incredible mobility, players can build a pretty good Kastov 545 build for short to medium-range engagements. However, it has limited range and there are multiple submachine guns out there that serve its role better than it likely ever will. It’s not terrible but it’s not good enough to justify using.

11. Kastov-74u

Best Kastov-74u Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: Corvus Slash Gen. 2 (-1.00, +0.08)
• Laser: Corio LAZ-44 v3 (-0.18, +36.91)
• Stock: Otrezat Stock (-1.55, -1.01)
• Ammunition: 5.45 High Velocity (+0.70, -4.06)
• Magazine: 45 Round Mag

The Kastov-74u is an ideal sniper support and thrives in its role as a hybrid SMG for close-quarter skirmishes. Paired alongside a meta sniper, this gun can perform well as long as you manage its recoil. However, it isn’t versatile or easy to use making it a niche option at best.

10. Lachmann-556

Best Lachmann 556 Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: Harbinger D20 (-0.47, +0.52)
• Barrel: 15.9″ Lachmann Rapp Barrel (+0.35, +0.14)
• Optic: Aim OP-V4 (-1.32, +0.00)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.18, +0.17)
• Magazine: 60 Round Mag

The Lachmann 556 became Warzone’s best rifle in Season 3. Its time in the sun has appeared to come to an end, though, as even though it received a buff in Season 5 Reloaded, the changes weren’t enough to return the Lachmann 556 to its former glory.

9. TAQ-56

Best TAQ-56 Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: Zulu-60 (-0.35, +0.48)
• Barrel: 17.5″ Tundra Pro Barrel (+0.50, +0.40)
• Optic: Aim-OP V4 (-0.97, +0.00)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.80, -0.25)
• Magazine: 60-Round Mag

Although more prevalent in multiplayer, the TAQ-56 is still a fantastic choice in Warzone. The AR’s damage, time to kill, and damage per second all appear average on paper, but it just feels so satisfying to use in-game. It remains a strong choice thanks to its dominant long-range performance.

8. ISO Hemlock

Best ISO Hemlock Warzone 2 Loadout

• Muzzle: FTAC Castle Comp (+0.80, -0.18)
• Barrel: Fielder-T50 (+0.16, +0.14)
• Optic: Aim OP-V4 (-0.93, +0.00)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.39, -0.40)
• Magazine: 45-Round Mag

The ISO Hemlock arrived in Season 2 and instantly became a meta-defining weapon. However, that was then and Season 4 hasn’t treated the Hemlock well. Back-to-back nerfs have seen this AR decline in popularity. Even so, its high accuracy gives it a niche as an extremely easy-to-use assault rifle.

7. STB-556

Best STB 556 Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: Komodo Heavy (+0.80, +0.15)
• Barrel: FTAC FB20 (-0.02, +0.32)
• Optic: Aim OP-V4 (-0.97, +0.00)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.31, -0.28)
• Magazine: 42 Round Mag

The STB 556 has remained a superb choice ever since it was given a sizable mobility buff in Season 3. It doesn’t necessarily excel at much but this AR-SMG hybrid is plenty fun to use, especially for aggressive Warzone players who take a lot of close to medium-range gunfights.

6. M4

Best M4 Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: Harbinger D20 (-0.36, +0.35)
• Barrel: Hightower 20″ Barrel (+0.18, +0.40)
• Optic: AIM OP-V4 (-1.76, +0.00)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.34, -0.40)
• Magazine: 60 Round Mag

You can’t go wrong with the classic M4. The weapon is well-balanced and easy to use. Modern Warfare 2’s iteration doesn’t blow anyone away with its stats, but its fast fire rate, ADS speed, and consistent damage make it reliable for any player.

5. Tempus Razorback

Best Tempus Razorback Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: Corvus Slash Gen.2 (-1.00, +0.40)
• Barrel: 16″ TANKR-V (+0.40, +0.25)
• Optic: AIM OP-V4 (-0.35, +0.00)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.26, =0.40)
• Magazine: 60 Round Mag

Interestingly, the Razorback wasn’t that popular on release with it being more favored in multiplayer than CoD’s battle royale. However, Season 5 has seen Warzone players come to appreciate its potential as a close to medium-range gun comparable to the FR Avancer.

4. Chimera

Best Chimera Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: Eight-Point Flash Hider (-1.00, +0.12)
• Barrel: 6.5″ EXF Vorpal (+0.40, +0,40)
• Stock: Ravage-10 (-4.00, +1.16)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.50, -0.14)
• Magazine: 45-Round Mag

Much like the Kastov-74u, the Chimera performs best up close and is more of an SMG than a traditional assault rifle. The versatile AR saw its close and far damage increase, and its head and lower torso damage multiplier increased in Season 5 Reloaded.

We believe that the FR Avancer may still hold a slight edge, but the Chimera is a phenomenal sniper support weapon after the mid-season update.

3. FR Avancer

Best FR Avancer Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: XTEN Havoc 90 (+0.41, +0.21)
• Optic: Aim OP-V4 (+1.35, -1.65)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.52, +0.26)
• Barrel: 435mm FR435 (+0.31, -0.18)
• Magazine: 60 Round Mag

The FR Avancer debuted in Season 5 and admittedly struggled to settle into a defined role. The AR couldn’t compete with SMGs and other ARs as sniper support and failed to compete with LMGs and battle rifles in long-range engagements. Season 5 Reloaded tackled both areas by improving the ARs close and far damage.

Players should consider giving this weapon a try if they need a sniper support weapon or want to pair the FR Avancer with an SMG in Resurgence.

2. Kastov 762

Best Kastov 762 Warzone 2 loadout

• Muzzle: Tempus GH50 (+0.26, +0.11)
• Optic: SZ Recharge-DX (-3.00, -1.95)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.80, -0.30)
• Ammunition: 7.62 High Velocity (+0.70, -3.19)
• Magazine: 40 Round Mag

For a short stint in Season 3, the Kastov 762 established itself as the best assault rifle in Warzone. It returned to the top of the pack at the start of Season 5. However, a buff to the M13B in the mid-season update knocks the Kastov 762 down one spot.

Players should still feel comfortable choosing the Kastov 762 because it dishes out massive damage if you are able to get over its relatively small 40-round mag.

1. M13B

Best M13B Warzone 2 loadout

• Barrel: 14″ Bruen Echelon (+0.50, +0.40)
• Optic:: Aim OP-V4 (+0.39, -0.40)
• Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56 (+0.39,-0.40)
• Ammunition: 5.56 High Velocity (+0.70, -2.03)
• Magazine: 60 Round Drum

Season 5 Reloaded increased every damage multiplier location for the M13B. The change was enough to elevate the fast-firing AR back to the top spot. Battle rifles and LMGs still take down enemies faster in long-range engagements, but you would be hard-pressed to find a better option for Resurgence matches.

That rounds off the best assault rifles in Warzone 2 Season 5 Reloaded. Be sure to check back in the future because as new updates are released and the meta shifts, so will this list.